Dielectric ceramics and capacitor

ABSTRACT

A dielectric ceramic and a capacitor comprising the dielectric ceramic are disclosed. The dielectric ceramic has a high dielectric constant that is stable over temperature, and has a small spontaneous polarization. The capacitor can reduce audible noise caused by an electrically induced strain in a power supply circuit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation in part based on PCT application No. JP2008/051323, filed on Jan. 29, 2008 which claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Applications No. 2007-017860, filed on Nov. 29, 2006, No. 2007-055095, filed on Mar. 6, 2007, No. 2007-072662, filed on Mar. 20, 2007, and No. 2007-072663, filed on Mar. 20, 2007, all entitled “DIELECTRIC CERAMICS AND CAPACITOR,” the content of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to dielectric ceramics and capacitors, and more particularly relate to dielectric ceramics containing barium titanate as a main component and a capacitor including the dielectric ceramic.

BACKGROUND

Digital electronic devices such as mobile computers and cellular phones are now widely used. Digital terrestrial broadcasting is also now in use. Receivers for digital terrestrial broadcasting are digital electronic devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) and plasma display. Such digital electronic devices include many large scale integrated circuits (LSI's).

Power circuits of such digital electronic devices include capacitors for bypassing. In practice, most digital circuits such as microcontroller circuits are designed as direct current (DC) circuits. Variations in the voltages of these circuits can cause problems, for example, if the voltages swing too much, the circuit may operate incorrectly. For most practical purposes, a voltage that fluctuates is considered an AC component. A function of a bypass capacitor is to dampen the AC component, which can be considered to be electrical noise. Another term used for the bypass capacitor is a filter cap.

A multilayer ceramic capacitor, which comprises a dielectric ceramic having a high relative dielectric constant, is used when a high capacitance is required in a circuit. On the other hand, a temperature compensating multilayer ceramic capacitor is used when a temperature characteristic of a capacitance is important in the circuit. The temperature compensating multilayer ceramic capacitor includes a dielectric ceramic with a stable temperature characteristic of the capacitance.

A multilayer ceramic capacitor with a high relative dielectric constant comprises a dielectric layer which has a ferroelectric property. Therefore, in a multilayer ceramic capacitor without temperature compensation a rate of change in temperature of the relative dielectric constant is high, thereby causing high hysteresis in electric-field versus dielectric polarization. Consequently, audible noise sounds tend to be easily generated on a power supply circuit due to an electrically induced strain.

In a temperature-compensating type multilayer ceramic capacitor, the dielectric layer has a paraelectric property. Therefore, the hysteresis in electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic is low. Thereby, the temperature-compensating type multilayer ceramic capacitor is substantially free from the electrically induced strain inherent to the ferroelectric property. However, since the dielectric ceramic in the temperature-compensating type multilayer ceramic capacitor has a low relative dielectric constant, its accumulating capability is low, which can cause degradation of its performances as a bypass capacitor.

Therefore, there is a need for a dielectric ceramic that has a high relative dielectric constant that is stable over temperature (has a stable temperature characteristic).

SUMMARY

A dielectric ceramic and a capacitor comprising the dielectric ceramic are disclosed. The dielectric ceramic has a high dielectric constant that is stable over temperature, and has a small spontaneous polarization. The capacitor can reduce audible noise caused by an electrically induced strain in a power supply circuit.

A first embodiment comprises a dielectric ceramic. The dielectric ceramic comprises a barium titanate; magnesium where a molar ratio of the magnesium to the barium is in a range of 0.01 to 0.06; yttrium where a molar ratio of the yttrium to the barium is in a range of 0.0014 to 0.06; and manganese where a molar ratio of the manganese to the barium is in a range of 0.0002 to 0.03. The dialectic ceramic also comprises ytterbium where mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate is in a range of 3.6 to 52.1 parts by mass of Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate. The dielectric ceramic also comprises crystal grains comprising the barium titanate as a main component, where grain boundaries of the crystal grains are located between or among the crystal grains. Average diameter of the crystal grains is in a range of 0.05 μm to 0.2 μm.

A second embodiment comprises a capacitor. The capacitor comprises a dielectric ceramic comprising: a barium titanate; magnesium where a molar ratio of the magnesium to the barium is in a range of 0.01 to 0.06; yttrium where a molar ratio of the yttrium to the barium is in a range of 0.0014 to 0.06; and manganese where a molar ratio of the manganese to the barium is in a range of 0.0002 to 0.03. The dialectic ceramic also comprises ytterbium where a mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate is in a range of 3.6 to 52.1 parts by mass of Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate. The dielectric ceramic also comprises crystal grains comprising the barium titanate as a main component; grain boundaries of the crystal grains are located between or among the crystal grains. Average diameter of the crystal grains is in a range of 0.05 μm to 0.2 μm. The capacitor also comprises a laminated body comprising dielectric layers and conductor layers, where each of the dielectric layers comprises the dielectric ceramic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described in conjunction with the following figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements. The figures are provided for illustration and depict exemplary embodiments of the invention. The figures are provided to facilitate understanding of the invention without limiting the breadth, scope, scale, or applicability of the invention. The drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

Tables 1-6 illustrate experimental values according to various embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an exemplary multilayer ceramic capacitor according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a graph showing an exemplary X-ray diffraction pattern of sample No. 4 in example 1.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing a change in relative dielectric constants of sample No. 4 in the example 1.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing a characteristic of dielectric polarization (V-Q) of sample No. 4 in the example 1.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing an X-ray diffraction pattern of sample No. 39 in the example 1.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing an X-ray diffraction pattern of sample No. 39 in the example 1.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing a characteristic of dielectric polarization (V-Q) of sample No. 39 in the example 1.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing an X-ray diffraction pattern of sample No. 80 in the example 1.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing an X-ray diffraction pattern of sample No. 80 in the example 1.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing a characteristic of dielectric polarization (V-Q) of sample No. 80 in the example 1.

FIG. 11 illustrates a sound pressure measuring machine used to measure audio noise of capacitors.

FIG. 12 illustrates an evaluation result of measuring audio noise sounds from existing capacitors and a capacitor according to an embodiment of invention using the sound pressure measuring machine in FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description is presented to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the embodiments of the invention. The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the embodiments of the invention. Descriptions of specific devices, techniques, and applications are provided only as examples. Modifications to the examples described herein will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. The present invention should be accorded scope consistent with the claims, and not limited to the examples described and shown herein.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein in the context of practical non-limiting applications, namely, a capacitor for a power supply circuit. Embodiments of the invention, however, are not limited to such lighting applications, and the techniques described herein may also be utilized in other optical applications. For example, embodiments may be applicable to a capacitor used to dampen the AC, or the noise in an electric circuit, and the like.

As would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this description, these are merely examples, and the embodiments of the invention are not limited to operating in accordance with these examples. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The dielectric ceramic according to the present embodiment contains barium titanate as a main component, magnesium, yttrium, manganese and ytterbium. Molar ratios of the magnesium, the yttrium and the manganese in the dielectric ceramic, with respect to barium included in the dielectric ceramic, are set to 0.01 to 0.06 of the magnesium, 0.0014 to 0.06 of the yttrium and 0.0002 to 0.03 of the manganese. That is, the molar ratio of the yttrium to the barium is equivalent to 0.0007 to 0.03 of the molar ratio of Y₂O₃ to barium. Mass of the ytterbium in the dielectric ceramic is equal to that of 3.6 to 52.1 parts by mass of Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate.

The dielectric ceramic comprises crystal grains that contain the barium titanate as a main component and a grain boundary phase which is located between the crystal grains or among the crystal grains. The grain boundary phase refers, without limitation, to amorphous phases or crystal phases, derived from accessory components such as magnesium, yttrium, manganese and ytterbium. The grain boundary of each of the crystal grains can be formed by a liquid-phase sintering with barium titanate and the accessory components (i.e., magnesium, yttrium, manganese and ytterbium). In addition, an average grain size of the crystal grains is 0.05 to 0.2 μm.

According to the present embodiment, in the dielectric ceramic, a crystal of the barium titanate comprises a solid solution of magnesium, yttrium, manganese and ytterbium. The solid solution turns a crystal structure of the barium titanate into a cubic system structure comprising tetragonal crystals having a high ferroelectric property and an average grain size of the crystal in a range of 0.05 to 0.2 μm. With the cubic system structure, the ferroelectric property due to the crystal structure of the tetragonal crystals is lowered, and the paraelectric property is consequently enhanced, thereby making it possible to reduce spontaneous polarization because of the enhanced paraelectric property.

The dielectric ceramic having the above-mentioned compositions and grain sizes can achieve a relative dielectric constant at room temperature (25° C.) of 250 or more, a relative dielectric constant at 125° C. of 230 or more, and a temperature coefficient ((∈125−∈25)/∈25(125−25)) of relative dielectric constant in a temperature range of 25° C. to 125° C. of 1000×10⁻⁶/° C. or less in its absolute value. Such a dielectric ceramic can also have a small hysteresis in electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic.

Turning the crystals into the cubic system can realize a constant rate of change in relative dielectric constant in a temperature range of −55° C. to 125° C. Consequently, the hysteresis in the electric field versus dielectric polarization characteristic becomes small. For this reason, even if the relative dielectric constant can be 250 or more, a temperature coefficient of relative dielectric constant of a dielectric ceramic can be small.

In other words, when the magnesium, the yttrium and the manganese are contained in the barium titanate in the above-mentioned range, the dielectric ceramic can have a Curie temperature of 25° C. or more and have a positive value in its temperature coefficient in the relative dielectric constant. In addition, when the ytterbium is further added the dielectric ceramic having such a dielectric property, the temperature coefficient of the relative dielectric constant can be smaller and the temperature characteristic can be further flattened. In this case, a curve of the rate of change in the relative dielectric constant may have two peaks, centered at 25° C. in the temperature range from −55° C. to 125° C. In other words, one peak may appear between −55° C. and 25° C. and the other peak may appear between 25° C. and 125° C.

The ytterbium may prevent the crystals of the dielectric ceramic from having significant grain growth. The mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate may be equivalent to 3.6 to 52.1 parts by mass of Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of barium titanate.

When the mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate is equivalent to less than 3.6 parts by mass of Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate, the resultant dielectric ceramic has a high temperature coefficient in the relative dielectric constant, but a relatively large hysteresis of dielectric hysteresis in the electric field versus dielectric polarization characteristic. In contrast, when the mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate is equivalent to more than 52.1 parts by mass of Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. may be lower than 250, the relative dielectric constant at 125° C. may be less than 230 and a temperature coefficient of the relative dielectric constant in a temperature range of 25° C. to 125° C. ((∈125−∈25)/∈25(125−25)) is larger than 1000×10⁶/° C. in its absolute value.

In one embodiment, the molar ratio of the magnesium may be 0.01 to 0.06 with respect to the barium included in the dielectric ceramic, the molar ratio of yttrium may be 0.0014 to 0.06 with respect to the barium included in the dielectric ceramic, and the molar ratio of the manganese may be 0.0002 to 0.03 with respect to the barium included in the dielectric ceramic. If the molar ratio of the magnesium is less than 0.01 with respect to the barium included in the dielectric ceramic, or if the molar ratio of the magnesium is more than 0.06 with respect to the barium included in the dielectric ceramic, the resultant dielectric ceramic may have a high temperature coefficient in the relative dielectric constant. If the molar ratio of the yttrium is less than 0.0014 with respect to the barium included in the dielectric ceramic, or if the molar ratio of the yttrium is more than 0.06 with respect to the barium included in the dielectric ceramic, the resultant dielectric ceramic has a high temperature coefficient in the relative dielectric constant and a hysteresis of dielectric hysteresis in the electric field versus dielectric polarization characteristic, even though it may have a high relative dielectric constant. Furthermore, if the molar ratio of manganese per 1 mole of barium included in the dielectric ceramic is less than 0.0002, or if the molar ratio of manganese per 1 mole of barium included in the dielectric ceramic is more than 0.03, the resultant dielectric ceramic may have a high temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant.

The average grain size of the crystal grains in the dielectric ceramic is 0.05 to 0.2 μm, according to the present embodiment. By setting the average grain size of the crystal grains in dielectric ceramic in a range of 0.05 to 0.2 μm, the crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic including the barium titanate as a main component are allowed to have a crystal structure mainly comprising the cubic system, and the hysteresis in electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic may be small so as to exhibit substantially a paraelectric property. In contrast, when the average grain size of the crystal grains in dielectric ceramic is smaller than 0.05 μm, since no effect of oriented polarization is exerted, the relative dielectric constant of the dielectric ceramic may be low. In addition, if the average grain size of the crystal grains in dielectric ceramic is greater than 0.2 μm, a crystal phase of a tetragonal system may be observed by X-ray diffraction, and the dielectric ceramic may have a high temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant.

The crystal structure mainly comprising the cubic system refers to a structure in which the intensity of an X-ray diffraction peak on the (110) plane that is the strongest peak in barium titanate of the cubic system is greater than the intensity of an X-ray diffraction peak of the different phase.

The average grain size of the crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic may be between 0.14 and 0.18 μm. In this size range, a polarization charge of the dielectric ceramic at 0V can be 20 nC/cm² or less in the electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic.

In one embodiment, the mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate may be equivalent to 6.3 to 15.6 parts by mass of the Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate, and the molar ratio of titanium with respect to barium may be 0.97 to 0.98. The molar ratios of the magnesium, the yttrium and the manganese to the barium may be 0.017 to 0.023, 0.003 to 0.02, and 0.01 to 0.013, respectively. The relative dielectric constant of the dielectric ceramic with the above composition can be 587 or more at 25° C., or 495 or more at 125° C. e, and the temperature coefficient in the relative dielectric constant can be 469×10⁻⁶/° C. or less in the absolute value.

The average grain size of crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic can be measured, without limitation, by using a scanning electron microscope as described later.

The relative dielectric constants at 25° C. and 125° C. may be calculated, without limitation, from measured values by using an LCR meter as described below.

The dielectric ceramic may further contain silicon and boron. The mass of silicon thereof is set to 0.73 to 6.3 parts by mass of SiO₂ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate, and the mass of boron thereof is set equal to 0.31 to 2.1 parts by mass of B₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of barium titanate.

Alternatively, the dielectric ceramic may contain silicon and lithium. The mass of silicon is set to 0.73 to 6.3 parts by mass of SiO₂ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate, and the mass of the lithium is set equal to 0.31 to 2.1 parts by mass of Li₂O with respect to 100 parts by mass of barium titanate.

Silicon and boron or silicon and lithium contained therein may enhance the liquid-phase sintering. In other words, the combination of these elements may lower the sintering temperature of the dielectric ceramic to the temperature range from 1150 to 1300° C.

If silicon/boron or silicon/lithium are contained therein the average grain size of the crystal grains may be set in a range from 0.14 to 0.18 μm in order to achieve the polarization charge of 20 nC/cm2 or less at 0V in the electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic.

A method for producing a dielectric ceramic is discussed below.

BaCO₃ powder, TiO₂ powder, MgO powder, Y₂O₃ powder and manganese carbonate (MnCO₃) powder, each having a purity of 99% or more, are used as a raw materials. These powders are respectively blended so as to contain ratios of 0.01 to 0.06 mole of MgO per 1 mole of barium included in the dielectric ceramic, 0.0007 to 0.03 mole of Y₂O₃ per 1 mole of barium included in the dielectric ceramic and 0.0002 to 0.03 mole of MnCO₃ per 1 mole of barium included in the dielectric ceramic.

The mixture of the powders are wet-mixtured, and after having been dried, it is calcined at a temperature in a range of 900 to 1100° C. to produce calcined powder, and then the calcined powder is pulverized. The crystal structure of the calcined powder may then become mainly a cubic system. The sintered product can comprise crystal grains including a cubic structure by using the resultant calcined powders and allowing grain growth of the crystal grains to an appropriate grain size (i.e., 0.05 to 0.2 μm of average grain size). In this manner, a dielectric ceramic with a high dielectric constant which a temperature characteristic in the relative dielectric constant close to the paraelectric property is obtained.

Then, the Yb₂O₃ powder is added to and mixed with the calcined powder. The mass of Yb₂O₃ powder is 3.5 to 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the calcined powder. In addition, SiO₂/B₂O₃, SiO₂/Li₂O or the combination thereof can be added to the calcined powder together with Y₂O₃. In one embodiment, 0.73 to 6.0 parts by mass of SiO₂ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate, and 0.3 to 2.0 parts by mass of B₂O₃ and/or Li₂O with respect to 100 parts by mass of barium titanate are added. Addition of SiO₂/B₂O₃, SiO₂/Li₂O or the combination thereof into the calcined powder can lower the sintering temperature. The addition can also suppress excessive grain growth even in the liquid-phase sintering process, although it is generally supposed that the ceramic grains easily grow in a liquid-phase sintering process.

The molded pellets of the mixed powder containing SiO₂/B₂O₃ or SiO₂/Li₂O can be sintered at a temperature in a range of 1150° C. to 1300° C. in the atmosphere to obtain a dielectric ceramic.

Then, the mixed powder is molded into pellets, and the pellets are sintered at a temperature in a range of 1300° C. to 1500° C. in the atmosphere to obtain the dielectric ceramics. The sintering may be carried out in the atmosphere or in a reducing atmosphere. If the sintering temperature is lower than 1300° C., the density of the dielectric ceramic may be low due to a lack of grain growth and densification of the crystal grains. In contrast, if the sintering temperature is higher than 1500° C., the crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic may have excessive unnecessary grain growth.

A capacitor can be manufactured, using the above-mentioned dielectric ceramic as described below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a multilayer ceramic capacitor according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown FIG. 1, the capacitor comprises a laminated body 1 which comprises external electrodes 12 on the two ends of the capacitor main body 10. The capacitor main body 10 comprises a laminated body 1 in which a plurality of dielectric layers 13 and a plurality of conductor layers 14 serving as inner electrode layers are alternately laminated. The dielectric layers 13 are made of the dielectric ceramic according to an embodiment of the present discourse. In other words, the capacitor can have a higher capacity and more stable capacity temperature characteristic than an existing capacitor by using the dielectric ceramic as the dielectric layers 13. This is because the dielectric ceramic according to an embodiment of the invention has a high dielectric constant, a stable temperature characteristic in the relative dielectric constant, and a small spontaneous polarization. Therefore, the capacitor can reduce a noise sound caused by an electrically induced strain in a power supply circuit.

Each of the dielectric layers 13 may have the thickness of 1 to 30 μm. In addition, the thinning of the dielectric layers 13 such as the thickness of each of the dielectric layers 13 maybe 5 μm or less which may increase the electrostatic capacity of the capacitor.

The conductor layer 14 is, without limitation, made of base metals, such as Ni and Cu in order to reduce the manufacturing cost. In particular, the conductor layer 14 may be made from Ni to easily carry out a simultaneous sintering with the dielectric layer 13. An average thickness of the conductor layer 14 may be, without limitation, 1 μm or less.

The aforementioned mixed powder is molded onto a green sheet to manufacture such a capacitor. A conductive paste for forming the conductor layer 14 is prepared and then applied on the surface of the green sheet. The resultant sheets are laminated, and then sintered to form the laminated green body. Thereafter, the conductor paste is further applied to the two end faces of the laminated green body for forming external electrodes 12, and the resultant laminated body is sintered to obtain a capacitor of the present embodiment.

Embodiments of the invention are further explained in detail in context of the following examples below.

Example 1

First, BaCO₃ powder, TiO₂ powder, MgO powder, Y₂O₃ powder and MnCO₃ powder, each having a purity of 99.9%, were provided, and these were blended at compounding ratios shown in Tables 1 to 3 so that mixed powder was prepared. The amounts of the magnesium (Mg), the yttrium (Y) and the manganese (Mn) are shown in Table 1 as a molar ratio of MgO, Y₂O₃ and MnO with respect to 1 mole of Ba respectively. The yttrium content was indicated by the molar ratio of the Y₂O₃ to the barium. Notably, the molar ratio of the yttrium to the barium is twice of the molar ratio of the Y₂O₃ to the barium. The amount of the titanium (Ti) is indicated by a molar ratio to 1 mole of the barium (Ba).

The mixed powder prepared as described above was calcined at 1000° C., and the resultant calcined powder was pulverized.

Thereafter, the Yb₂O₃ powder having a purity of 99.9% was mixed with 100 parts by weight of the pulverized powder at a ratio shown in FIG. 11. In addition, the Yb₂O₃ powder, the SiO₂ powder and the B₂O₃ powder, each having a purity of 99.9%, were mixed with 100 parts by weight of the pulverized powder at ratios shown in Table 2. Furthermore, the Yb₂O₃ powder, the SiO₂ powder and the Li₂O powder, each having a purity of 99.9%, were mixed with 100 parts by weight of the temporarily sintered powder at ratios shown in Table 3. These mixed powders were respectively granulated, and molded into pellets having a diameter of 16.5 mm and a thickness of 1 mm.

TABLE 1 Avarage Particle Composition Size of Calsinated Sintering Sample Molar ratios with respect to Ba Yb₂O₃ Powder Temperature No. Ba Mg Y Mn Ti parts by mass μm ° C. 1 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 2.0 0.1 1350 2 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 3.5 0.1 1350 3 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 4.0 0.1 1350 4 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 6.0 0.1 1350 5 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 6 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 15.0 0.1 1350 7 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 20.0 0.1 1350 8 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 50.0 0.1 1350 9 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 55.0 0.1 1350 10 1 0.02 0.0002 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 11 1 0.02 0.0007 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 12 1 0.02 0.0015 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 13 1 0.02 0.005 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 14 1 0.02 0.007 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 15 1 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 16 1 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 17 1 0.005 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 18 1 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 19 1 0.017 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 20 1 0.023 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 21 1 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 22 1 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 23 1 0.02 0.01 0.005 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 24 1 0.02 0.01 0.008 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 25 1 0.02 0.01 0.013 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 26 1 0.02 0.01 0.015 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 27 1 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 28 1 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 29 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.97 8.5 0.1 1350 30 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.99 8.5 0.1 1350 31 1 0.02 0.01 0 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350 32 1 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.04 1350 33 1 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.98 4.0 0.04 1320 34 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.5 0.1 1380 35 1 0.02 0.01 0.0002 0.98 8.5 0.1 1350

TABLE 2 Composition Avarage Ratios with respect to 100 parts Particle by mass of Barium Titanate Size of Yb₂O₃ SiO₂ Calsinated Sintering Sample Molar ratios with respect to Ba parts by parts by B₂O₃ Powder Temperature No. Ba Mg Y Mn Ti mass mass parts by mass μm ° C. 36 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 2.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 37 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 3.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 38 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 4.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 39 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 6.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 40 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 41 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 15.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 42 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 20.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 43 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 50.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 44 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 55.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 45 1 0.020 0.0002 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 46 1 0.020 0.0007 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 47 1 0.020 0.0015 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 48 1 0.020 0.005 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 49 1 0.020 0.007 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 50 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 51 1 0.020 0.040 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 52 1 0.005 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 53 1 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 54 1 0.017 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 55 1 0.023 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 56 1 0.040 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 57 1 0.060 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1200 58 1 0.070 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 59 1 0.020 0.010 0.005 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 60 1 0.020 0.010 0.008 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 61 1 0.020 0.010 0.013 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 62 1 0.020 0.010 0.015 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 63 1 0.020 0.010 0.030 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 64 1 0.020 0.010 0.040 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 65 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.97 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 66 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.99 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 67 1 0.020 0.010 0 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 68 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 0.7 0.3 0.1 1300 69 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 2.5 0.5 0.1 1220 70 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 3.0 1.0 0.1 1200 71 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 4.5 1.5 0.1 1200 72 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 6.0 2.0 0.1 1150 73 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.04 1250 74 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.04 1210 75 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1280 76 1 0.020 0.010 0.0002 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250

TABLE 3 Composition Avarage Ratios with respect to 100 parts Particle by mass of Barium Titanate Size of Yb₂O₃ SiO₂ Calsined Sintering Sample Molar ratios with respect to Ba parts by parts by Li₂O Powder Temperature No. Ba Mg Y Mn Ti mass mass parts by mass μm ° C. 77 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 2.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 78 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 3.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 79 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 4.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 80 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 6.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 81 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 82 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 15.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 83 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 20.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 84 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 50.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 85 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 55.0 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 86 1 0.020 0.0002 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 87 1 0.020 0.0007 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 88 1 0.020 0.0015 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 89 1 0.020 0.005 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 90 1 0.020 0.007 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 91 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 92 1 0.020 0.040 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 93 1 0.005 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 94 1 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 95 1 0.017 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 96 1 0.023 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 97 1 0.040 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 98 1 0.060 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1200 99 1 0.070 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 100 1 0.020 0.010 0.005 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 101 1 0.020 0.010 0.008 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 102 1 0.020 0.010 0.013 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 103 1 0.020 0.010 0.015 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 104 1 0.020 0.010 0.030 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 105 1 0.020 0.010 0.040 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 106 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.97 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 107 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.99 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 108 1 0.020 0.010 0 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250 109 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 0.7 0.3 0.1 1300 110 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 2.5 0.5 0.1 1220 111 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 3.0 1.0 0.1 1200 112 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 4.5 1.5 0.1 1200 113 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 6.0 2.0 0.1 1150 114 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.04 1250 115 2 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.04 1210 116 3 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1280 117 1 0.020 0.010 0.0002 0.98 8.5 1.5 0.5 0.1 1250

The average particle size of the pulverized powder was measured by the following processes: the particles of the pulverized powder was scattered on the sample stage of a scanning electron microscope, photograph of the particles were taken, profiles of the particles on the photograph were image-processed, the diameter of each particle was measured and the average value thereof was calculated with an assumption that each particle is round with the same area. The magnification of the photograph was set to 30,000 times, and the number of particles observed was set to three for each of the specimens to calculate the average value.

Next, ten pieces of pellets for each composition were sintered in the atmosphere at a temperature shown in Tables 1 to 3. The average grain size of crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic including the barium titanate as a main component was measured in the following processes. First, the fractured surface of a sintered sample was roughly polished with a polishing paper of #1200, and was then subjected to a polishing process by using a diamond paste having a grain size of 3 μm applied on a hard buff, and this was further subjected to a finish polishing process by using a soft buff with alumina abrasive grains applied thereon and having a grain size of 0.3 μm.

Next, the resultant fractured surface of the sintered pellets was etched by an acidic aqueous solution (hydrochloric acid-hydrogen fluoride), and the inner microstructure thereof was then photographed with a scanning electron microscope. Then, profiles of the crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic appearing on the photograph were image-processed, and the diameter of each particle was measured and the average value thereof was calculated with an assumption that each particle had approximately a same area. The magnification of the photograph was set to 30,000 times, and the number of grains observed in an area of size of 10 cm×15 cm of the photograph was set to three for each of the samples, and then the average value thereof was calculated.

Next, an indium-gallium conductor paste was applied, to form a conductive layer, on the upper and lower surface of the sintered pellet. The samples were used for evaluation. Tables 4 to 6 show the results.

The relative dielectric constant can be measured, without limitation, in the following processes. The electrostatic capacity of each of samples of dielectric ceramics thus produced was measured by using an inductance, capacitance, and resistance (LCR) meter under conditions of a frequency of 1.0 kHz and an input signal level of 1.0V at temperatures of 25° C. and 125° C. Then, the relative dielectric constants at 25° C. and 125° C. were calculated based upon the diameter and thickness of the sample and the area of the conductor layer formed on the surface of the dielectric ceramic.

Moreover, the temperature coefficient of the relative dielectric constant was calculated by substituting each of the relative dielectric constants at 25° C. and 125° C. for the following expression: TC=(∈₁₂₅−±∈25)/{∈25*(125−25)}

where ∈₂₅ and ∈₁₂₅ are relative dielectric constants at 25° C. and 125° C., respectively. These measurements were carried out by setting the number of samples to 10 and calculating the average value thereof.

Then, electrically induced strain was measured by a dielectric polarization (polarization charge) measurement for the resultant samples. In this case, the measurement was made based upon the quantity of charge (residual polarization) at 0V when the voltage is changed within a range of ±1250V. Also, crystals of the dielectric ceramic are identified by X-ray diffraction (20 to 600 of 20 with Cu—Kα)

The compositions of the obtained dielectric ceramics were determined by using Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) emission spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Specifically, a mixture of each resultant dielectric ceramic, boric acid and sodium carbonate was melted and dissolved in hydrochloric acid, and the resultant solution was qualitatively analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy for elements contained in the dielectric ceramic. Then, the identified elements were quantified by ICP emission spectroscopy with standard samples obtained by diluting standard solutions of the elements. The oxygen content was measured with the assumption that the elements had valences shown in the periodic table of elements.

The compositions of powder mixture are shown in the Tables 1 to 3. The average particle sizes of the calcined powders and the sintering temperatures for the calcined powders are also shown in Tables 1 to 3. The average grain diameters and of the characteristics (relative dielectric constant, the absolute value of temperature coefficient of relative dielectric constant, temperature change curve in relative dielectric constant and polarized charge) are shown in Tables 4 to 6.

The amounts of the Yb₂O₃ additive in the Tables 1-3 corresponds to a mass ratio with respect to 100 parts by mass of calcined powder while the mass ratio of the Yb₂O₃ in Tables 4 to 6 correspond to a mass ratio relative to 100 parts by mass of barium titanate in the dielectric ceramic (sample). Amounts of the Mg, the Y and the Mn in Tables 4 to 6 correspond to converted amounts based on oxide. That is, they are indicated by the molar ratios of the MgO, the Y₂O₃ and the MnO respectively. “Average grain size of crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic” in Tables 4 to 6 refers to the average grain size of crystal grains of the dielectric ceramic containing the barium titanate as a main component. Moreover, “the absolute value of temperature coefficient of relative dielectric constant” in Tables 4 to 6 refers to the absolute value of the average value of the temperature coefficients in relative dielectric constant measured as described above. In the “Temperature Dependence Curve of ∈_(r)” column of temperature changes of relative dielectric constant in Tables 4 to 6, entries marked with “o” represent samples in which two peaks were found centered on 25° C., while entries not marked with “o” represent samples in which two peaks were not found centered on 25° C.

In the “polarized charge” column in Tables 4 to 6, entries with no “o” represent samples whose polarization charge is not 20 nC/cm2 or less.

TABLE 4 Avarage Relative Abusolute Valure Temperature Composition Crystal Dielectric of Temperature Dependence Poralized Yb₂O₃ Grain Constant (ε_(r)) Coefficient of εr Curve of εr Charge Sample Molar ratios with respect to Ba parts by Size 25° C. 125° C. 25 to 125° C. ◯: Two Peals ◯: 20 nC/cm² No. Ba MgO Y₂O₃ MnO Ti mass μm — — ×10⁻⁶/° C. observed or under 1 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 2.1 0.40 2520 1480 4127 2 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 3.6 0.20 1050 955 905 ◯ 3 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 4.2 0.18 820 740 976 ◯ 4 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 6.3 0.17 680 657 338 ◯ ◯ 5 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.9 0.15 650 626 369 ◯ ◯ 6 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 15.6 0.15 630 605 397 ◯ ◯ 7 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 20.8 0.15 620 580 645 ◯ 8 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 52.1 0.15 252 230 873 ◯ 9 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 57.3 0.15 180 163 944 10 1 0.02 0.0002 0.01 0.98 8.8 0.40 800 680 1500 11 1 0.02 0.0007 0.01 0.98 8.8 0.20 720 660 833 ◯ 12 1 0.02 0.0015 0.01 0.98 8.8 0.18 683 651 469 ◯ ◯ 13 1 0.02 0.005 0.01 0.98 8.8 0.17 675 645 444 ◯ ◯ 14 1 0.02 0.007 0.01 0.98 8.8 0.17 653 634 291 ◯ ◯ 15 1 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.98 9.0 0.10 678 632 678 ◯ 16 1 0.02 0.04 0.01 0.98 9.1 0.10 689 610 1147 17 1 0.005 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.7 0.40 800 700 1250 18 1 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.8 0.20 630 580 794 ◯ 19 1 0.017 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.8 0.16 600 578 367 ◯ ◯ 20 1 0.023 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.9 0.15 587 495 400 ◯ ◯ 21 1 0.06 0.01 0.01 0.98 9.2 0.10 420 381 929 ◯ 22 1 0.07 0.01 0.01 0.98 9.3 0.14 406 354 1281 23 1 0.02 0.01 0.005 0.98 8.8 0.20 892 637 795 ◯ 24 1 0.02 0.01 0.008 0.98 8.8 0.19 673 618 817 ◯ 25 1 0.02 0.01 0.013 0.98 8.9 0.18 672 641 461 ◯ ◯ 26 1 0.02 0.01 0.015 0.98 8.9 0.18 669 612 852 ◯ 27 1 0.02 0.01 0.03 0.98 9.0 0.16 650 592 892 ◯ 28 1 0.02 0.01 0.04 0.98 9.1 0.14 630 561 1095 29 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.97 8.9 0.14 651 634 261 ◯ ◯ 30 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.99 8.9 0.15 648 590 895 ◯ 31 1 0.02 0.01 0 0.98 8.8 0.40 732 651 1107 32 1 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.98 9.0 0.05 253 231 870 ◯ 33 1 0.02 0.03 0.01 0.98 9.0 0.04 199 172 1357 34 1 0.02 0.01 0.01 0.98 8.9 0.26 1620 1280 2099 35 1 0.02 0.01 0.0002 0.98 8.8 0.20 700 632 971 ◯

TABLE 5 Composition Ratios with respect to Avarage Relative Abusolute Valure Temperature Poralized 100 parts by mass Crystal Dielectric of Temperature Dependence Charge of BaTiO₃ Grain Constant (ε_(r)) Coefficient of ε_(r) Curve of ε_(r) ◯: 20 nC/ Sample Molar ratios with respect to Ba Yb₂O₃ SiO₂ B₂O₃ Size 25° C. 125° C. 25 to 125° C. ◯: Two Peaks cm² No. Ba MgO Y₂O₃ MnO Ti parts by mass μm — — ×10⁻⁶/° C. observed or under 36 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 2.1 1.56 0.52 0.4 2550 1360 4667 37 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 3.6 1.56 0.52 0.2 1040 940 962 ◯ 38 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 4.2 1.56 0.52 0.18 800 740 750 ◯ 39 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 6.3 1.56 0.52 0.17 680 633 691 ◯ ◯ 40 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 1.56 0.52 0.15 648 608 617 ◯ ◯ 41 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 15.6 1.56 0.52 0.15 629 588 652 ◯ ◯ 42 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 20.8 1.56 0.52 0.15 597 544 888 ◯ 43 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 52.1 1.56 0.52 0.15 247 236 445 ◯ 44 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 57.3 1.56 0.52 0.15 181 165 884 ◯ 45 1 0.020 0.0002 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.4 798 880 1028 46 1 0.020 0.0007 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.2 718 660 808 ◯ 47 1 0.020 0.0015 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.18 680 651 426 ◯ ◯ 48 1 0.020 0.005 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.17 672 645 402 ◯ ◯ 49 1 0.020 0.007 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.56 0.52 0.17 651 634 261 ◯ ◯ 50 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.1 675 627 711 ◯ 51 1 0.020 0.040 0.010 0.98 9.1 1.61 0.54 0.1 687 610 1121 52 1 0.005 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.7 1.54 0.51 0.4 798 700 1228 53 1 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.2 628 580 764 ◯ 54 1 0.017 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.56 0.52 0.16 597 578 318 ◯ ◯ 55 1 0.023 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 1.57 0.52 0.13 585 545 684 ◯ ◯ 56 1 0.040 0.010 0.010 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.1 418 388 718 ◯ 57 1 0.060 0.010 0.010 0.98 9.2 1.63 0.54 0.1 243 226 700 ◯ 58 1 0.070 0.010 0.010 0.98 9.3 1.65 0.55 0.14 405 354 1259 59 1 0.020 0.010 0.005 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.2 690 637 768 ◯ 60 1 0.020 0.010 0.008 0.98 8.8 1.56 0.52 0.19 670 619 761 ◯ 61 1 0.020 0.010 0.013 0.98 8.9 1.57 0.52 0.18 669 641 419 ◯ ◯ 62 1 0.020 0.010 0.015 0.98 8.9 1.57 0.52 0.18 665 616 737 ◯ 63 1 0.020 0.010 0.030 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.16 649 600 755 ◯ 64 1 0.020 0.010 0.040 0.98 9.1 1.61 0.54 0.14 630 560 1111 65 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.97 8.9 1.56 0.52 0.14 649 634 231 ◯ ◯ 66 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.99 8.9 1.56 0.52 0.15 645 590 853 ◯ 67 1 0.020 0.010 0 0.98 8.9 1.55 0.52 0.4 730 651 1082 68 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 0.73 0.31 0.15 660 616 667 ◯ ◯ 69 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 2.61 0.52 0.15 590 550 678 ◯ ◯ 70 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 3.13 1.04 0.15 411 383 681 ◯ ◯ 71 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 4.69 1.56 0.15 320 290 938 ◯ 72 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 6.3 2.1 0.15 220 200 909 ◯ 73 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.05 254 236 709 ◯ 74 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.04 171 157 819 ◯ 75 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 3.5 1.56 0.52 0.28 1636 1115 3185 76 1 0.020 0.010 0.0002 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.2 695 628 964 ◯

TABLE 6 Composition Ratios with respect to Avarage Relative Abusolute Valure Temperature 100 parts by mass Crystal Dielectric of Temperature Dependence Poralized of BaTiO₃ Grain Constant (εr) Coefficient of εr Curve of εr Charge Sample Molar ratios with respect to Ba Yb₂O₃ SiO₂ Li₂O Size 25° C. 125° C. 25 to 125° C. ◯: Two Peaks ◯: 20 nC/cm² No. Ba MgO Y₂O₃ MnO Ti parts by mass μm — — ×10⁻⁶/° C. observed or less 77 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 2.1 1.56 0.52 0.4 2520 1380 4524 78 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 3.6 1.56 0.52 0.2 1043 940 988 ◯ 79 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 4.2 1.56 0.52 0.18 820 740 976 ◯ 80 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 6.3 1.56 0.52 0.17 680 633 691 ◯ ◯ 81 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 1.56 0.52 0.15 650 610 615 ◯ ◯ 82 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 15.6 1.56 0.52 0.15 630 586 698 ◯ ◯ 83 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 20.8 1.56 0.52 0.15 620 5650 81129 ◯ 84 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 52.1 1.56 0.52 0.15 252 233 754 ◯ 85 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 57.3 1.56 0.52 0.15 180 163 944 ◯ 86 1 0.020 0.0002 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.4 800 680 1500 87 1 0.020 0.0007 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.2 720 660 833 ◯ 88 1 0.020 0.0015 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.18 683 651 469 ◯ ◯ 89 1 0.020 0.005 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.17 675 645 444 ◯ ◯ 90 1 0.020 0.007 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.56 0.52 0.17 653 634 291 ◯ ◯ 91 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.1 678 630 708 ◯ 92 1 0.020 0.040 0.010 0.98 9.1 1.61 0.54 0.1 689 610 1147 93 1 0.005 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.7 1.54 0.51 0.4 800 700 1250 94 1 0.010 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.2 630 580 794 ◯ 95 1 0.017 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.8 1.56 0.52 0.16 600 578 367 ◯ ◯ 96 1 0.023 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 1.57 0.52 0.15 587 546 698 ◯ ◯ 97 1 0.040 0.010 0.010 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.1 420 391 690 ◯ ◯ 98 1 0.060 0.010 0.010 0.98 9.2 1.63 0.54 0.1 411 383 681 ◯ ◯ 99 1 0.070 0.010 0.010 0.98 9.3 1.65 0.55 0.14 406 354 1281 100 1 0.020 0.010 0.005 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.2 692 637 795 ◯ 101 1 0.020 0.010 0.008 0.98 8.8 1.56 0.52 0.19 673 618 817 ◯ 102 1 0.020 0.010 0.013 0.98 8.9 1.57 0.52 0.18 672 641 461 ◯ ◯ 103 1 0.020 0.010 0.015 0.98 8.9 1.57 0.52 0.18 669 623 688 ◯ 104 1 0.020 0.010 0.030 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.16 650 605 692 ◯ 105 1 0.020 0.010 0.040 0.98 9.1 1.61 0.54 0.14 630 561 1095 106 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.97 8.9 1.56 0.52 0.14 651 634 261 ◯ ◯ 107 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.99 8.9 1.56 0.52 0.15 648 590 895 ◯ 108 1 0.020 0.010 0 0.98 8.9 1.55 0.52 0.4 732 651 1107 109 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 0.73 0.31 0.15 660 616 667 ◯ ◯ 110 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 2.61 0.52 0.15 590 550 678 ◯ ◯ 111 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 3.13 1.04 0.15 410 382 683 ◯ ◯ 112 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 4.69 1.56 0.15 320 290 938 ◯ 113 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 8.9 6.3 2.1 0.15 220 200 909 ◯ 114 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.05 255 236 745 ◯ 115 1 0.020 0.030 0.010 0.98 9.0 1.60 0.53 0.04 170 157 765 ◯ 116 1 0.020 0.010 0.010 0.98 3.5 1.56 0.52 0.28 1637 1116 3183 ◯ 117 1 0.020 0.010 0.0002 0.98 8.8 1.55 0.52 0.2 695 628 964 ◯

Tables 1 and 4 indicate that in samples Nos. 2 to 8, 11 to 15, 18 to 21, 23 to 27, 29, 30, 32 and 35, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. is 252 or more, the relative dielectric constant at 125° C. is 230 or more, and the temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant in a temperature range from 25° C. to 125° C. is 976×10⁻⁶/° C. or less as the absolute value.

In particular, samples Nos. 4 to 6, 12 to 14, 19, 20, 25 and 29 include 0.017 to 0.023 of the molar ratio of the MgO with respect to Ba, 0.0015 to 0.01 of the molar ratio of the Y₂O₃ with respect to Ba and 0.01 to 0.013 of the molar ratio of the MnO with respect to Ba, and the content of the Yb₂O₃ is 6.3 to 15.6 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate as a main component, and the titanium molar ratio over 1 mole of barium is 0.97 to 0.98. In these samples, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. is 587 or more, the relative dielectric constant at 125° C. is 495 or more, the temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant in a temperature range from 25° C. to 125° C. is 469×10⁻⁶/° C. or less as the absolute value, and the curve indicating the rate of change in relative dielectric constant had two peaks in a temperature range from −55° C. to 125° C. No large hysteresis was observed in the measurements of electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic. Samples having no large hysteresis had a polarization charge of 20 nC/cm2 or less at 0V.

FIG. 2 shows an X-ray diffraction pattern of a dielectric ceramic derived from sample No. 4 which was arbitrarily selected from the samples mentioned above. FIG. 3 shows the change in relative dielectric constant of the sample No. 4. FIG. 4 shows the electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic of the sample No. 4.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the dielectric ceramic of sample No. 4 has the crystal structure mainly comprising a cubic system, the temperature characteristic in relative dielectric constant has two peaks centered at 25° C., the rate of change in relative dielectric constant was small, and the hysteresis in electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic was small. In the same manner, the other samples mentioned above had a crystal structure mainly comprising a cubic system and also had a small rate of change in relative dielectric constant.

In contrast, in samples Nos. 1, 8, 9, 15, 16, 21, 27, 30, 32 and 33, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. was less than 250 and/or absolute values of the temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant were greater than 1000×10⁻⁶/° C.

Tables 2 and 5 indicates that in samples of Nos. 37 to 43, 46 to 50, 53 to 57, 59 to 63, 65, 66, 68 to 73 and 76, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. is 220 or more, the relative dielectric constant at 125° C. is 200 or more, and the temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant in a range from 25° C. to 125° C. is 1000×10⁻⁶/° C. or less as the absolute value.

In particular, sample Nos. 39 to 41, 47 to 49, 54, 55, 61, 65, and 68 to 70 include 0.017 to 0.06 mole of MgO, 0.0015 to 0.01 mole of Y₂O₃ and 0.01 to 0.013 mole of MnO per 1 mole of Ba, and the content of Yb₂O₃ is 6.3 to 15.6 parts by mass, the content of SiO₂ is 0.73 to 3.13 parts by mass and the content of B₂O₃ is 0.31 to 1.04 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of barium titanate as a main component, and the titanium molar ratio over 1 mole of barium is 0.97 to 0.98. In these samples, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. is 400 or more, the relative dielectric constant at 125° C. is 380 or more, the temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant in a temperature range from 25° C. to 125° C. is 700×10⁻⁶/° C. or less as the absolute value and the curve indicating the rate of change in relative dielectric constant had two peaks in a temperature range from −55° C. to 125° C. No large hysteresis was observed in the measurements of electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic for these samples. Those samples having no large hysteresis had a polarization charge of 20 nC/cm2 or less at 0V.

FIG. 5 shows an X-ray diffraction pattern of a dielectric ceramic derived from sample No. 39 which was arbitrarily selected from these samples. FIG. 6 shows the change in relative dielectric constant of the sample No. 39. FIG. 7 shows the electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic of the sample No. 39.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the dielectric ceramic of sample No. 39 has the crystal structure mainly comprising a cubic system, the temperature characteristic in relative dielectric constant has two peaks centered at 25° C., the rate of change in relative dielectric constant was small, and the hysteresis in electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic was small. In the same manner, the other samples mentioned above had a crystal structure mainly comprising a cubic system and also had a small rate of change in relative dielectric constant.

In contrast, in sample Nos. 36, 44, 45, 51, 52, 58, 64, 67, 74 and 75, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. was less than 220 and/or absolute values of the temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant were greater than 1000×10⁻⁶/° C.

Tables 3 and 6 indicate that in sample Nos. 78 to 84, 87 to 91, 94 to 98, 100 to 104, 106, 107, 109 to 114 and 117, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. is 220 or more, the relative dielectric constant at 125° C. is 200 or more, and the temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant in a temperature range from 25° C. to 125° C. is 1000×10⁻⁶/° C. or less as the absolute value.

In particular, samples Nos. 80 to 82, 88 to 90, 95 to 98, 102 to 104, 106 and 109 to 111 include 0.017 to 0.06 mole of MgO, 0.0015 to 0.01 mole of Y₂O₃ and 0.01 to 0.03 mole of MnO per 1 mole of Ba, and the content of Yb₂O₃ is 6.3 to 15.6 parts by mass, the content of SiO₂ is 0.73 to 3.13 parts by mass and the content of Li₂O is 0.31 to 1.04 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of barium titanate as a main component, and the titanium molar ratio over 1 mole of barium is 0.97 to 0.98. In these samples, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. is 400 or more, the relative dielectric constant at 125° C. is 380 or more, the temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant in a range from 25° C. to 125° C. is 700×10⁻⁶/° C. or less as the absolute value and the curve indicating the rate of change in relative dielectric constant had two peaks in a temperature range from −55° C. to 125° C. No large hysteresis was found in the measurements of electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic for these samples. Those samples having no hysteresis had a polarization charge of 20 nC/cm2 or less at 0V.

FIG. 8 shows an X-ray diffraction pattern of a dielectric ceramic derived from sample No. 80 which was arbitrarily selected from these samples. FIG. 9 shows the change in relative dielectric constant of the sample No. 80. FIG. 10 shows the electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic of the sample No. 80.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the dielectric ceramic of sample No. 39 has the crystal structure mainly comprising a cubic system, the temperature characteristic in relative dielectric constant has two peaks centered at 25° C., the rate of change in relative dielectric constant was small, and the hysteresis in electric-field versus dielectric polarization characteristic was small. In the same manner, the other samples mentioned above had a crystal structure mainly comprising a cubic system and also had a small rate of change in relative dielectric constant.

In the sample Nos. 77, 85 86, 92, 93, 99, 105, 108, 115 and 116, the relative dielectric constant at 25° C. was less than 200 and/or absolute values of the temperature coefficient in relative dielectric constant was 1095×10⁻⁶/° C. or more.

Example 2

The capacitor was produced by using the dielectric ceramic of sample No. 80, and the noise sounds of the capacitor were evaluated as explained below.

First, the powder mixture of sample No. 80 was mixed with the mixed solvent of toluene and alcohol, and then they were wet blended with zirconia balls with a diameter of 1 mm. Thus slurry was prepared. Then 120 ceramic green sheets with thickness of 12 μm were prepared by doctor blade method.

A first conductive paste was applied onto each of the resultant ceramic green sheets to form an internal electrode with a rectangular shape. The first conductive paste contains Ni powder with average particle diameter of 0.3 μm. A ceramic powder of the same dielectric ceramic powder used for producing dielectric ceramic was used. The ceramic powder in the first conductive paste is 15 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of conductive powder(s). Thus, 75 ceramic green sheets with the internal electrode were prepared.

The 75 ceramic green sheets were stacked to form a stacked body. 20 green sheets without internal electrodes were stacked and placed on each side of the stacked body. These are pressed by a press machine at a temperature of 60° C. and a pressure of 107 Pa for 10 minutes. The resultant multilayer product was cut into pieces to form a capacitor body compact.

Next, after a process of dewaxing, the capacitor body compact was sintered at 1080-1200° C. in a mixture gas of hydrogen and nitrogen. The sintered capacitor body was then subjected to re-oxidation process at a temperature of 1000° C. in nitrogen including oxygen for four hours.

The capacitor body has a size of 2 mm×1 mm×1 mm and a internal electrode layer has a thickness of 8 μm. An effective area of an internal electrode layer which refers to portion which face neighboring internal electrode layers was 1.2 mm². The internal electrode layers may be alternately connected to two side surface of the capacitor body.

Next, capacitor bodies were polished by barrel polishing and then the second conductive paste was applied to the both ends of a capacitor body where the one ends of internal electrode layers were exposed. The second conductive paste contains Cu powder and glass. The second conductive paste layers on the capacitor bodies were sintered at 850° C. to form exterior electrodes.

Next, noise sounds from the capacitors were measured using a sound pressure measuring machine as shown in FIG. 11. The AC voltage, direct current voltage and frequency were set to 1-4V, 25V and 100 Hz-15 kHz respectively.

In contrast, a capacitor with dielectric ceramic, which is in a high dielectric constant family, containing barium titanate as a main component and having a relative dielectric constant of 2500 is provided and evaluated in the same manner. The size of this capacitor was same as capacitors described above.

FIG. 12 shows an evaluation result of measuring audio noise sounds from the capacitors using the sound pressure measuring machine in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 12, A represents a blank, B represents a capacitor comprising dielectric ceramic of sample No. 80 in Table 1 and C represents a comparative example of the capacitor comprising a dielectric ceramic which has a high dielectric constant of 2500.

The capacitor B generated less audio noise sound than the capacitor C in almost all the frequency range between 100 Hz to 15 kHz. That is, the capacitor B has better audio noise reduction capability than capacitor C.

Capacitors using dielectric ceramic of sample Nos. 2-5, 8-10, 18-22, 25, 25, 27, 30 compared with the capacitor which used the high dielectric constant material for the dielectric layer like the samples 3-4 in Table 1, the sound pressure level was low relative to the other samples of the present invention shown in the above examples.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment or embodiments. Variations may be apparent to those skilled in the art. In carrying out the present invention, various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur in regard to the elements of the above-described embodiment insofar as they are within the technical scope of the present invention or the equivalents thereof. The exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a template for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof. Furthermore, although embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that changes and modifications may be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are to be understood as being included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations hereof, unless otherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposed to limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” should be read as mean “including, without limitation” or the like; the term “example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item in discussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,” “standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construed as limiting the item described to a given time period or to an item available as of a given time, but instead should be read to encompass conventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may be available or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, a group of items linked with the conjunction “and” should not be read as requiring that each and every one of those items be present in the grouping, but rather should be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Similarly, a group of items linked with the conjunction “or” should not be read as requiring mutual exclusivity among that group, but rather should also be read as “and/or” unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore, although items, elements or components of the invention may be described or claimed in the singular, the plural is contemplated to be within the scope thereof unless limitation to the singular is explicitly stated. The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “at least,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instances shall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or required in instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The term “about” when referring to a numerical value or range is intended to encompass values resulting from experimental error that can occur when taking measurements. 

1. A dielectric ceramic, comprising: barium titanate; magnesium, a molar ratio of the magnesium to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.01 to 0.06; yttrium, a molar ratio of the yttrium to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.0014 to 0.06; manganese, a molar ratio of the manganese to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.0002 to 0.03; ytterbium, a mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate is in a range of 3.6 to 52.1 parts by mass of Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate; and a plurality of crystal grains comprising the barium titanate as a main component, wherein boundaries of the crystal grains are located between or among the crystal grains, and wherein an average diameter of the crystal grains is in a range of 0.05 μm to 0.2 μm.
 2. The dielectric ceramic according to claim 1, wherein: the molar ratio of the magnesium to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.017 to 0.06, the molar ratio of the yttrium to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.0030 to 0.02, and the molar ratio of the manganese to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.01 to 0.013.
 3. The dielectric ceramic according to claim 2, wherein the mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate is in a range of 6.3 to 15.6 parts by the mass of the Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by the mass of the barium titanate.
 4. The dielectric ceramic according to claim 3, wherein a molar ratio of titanium to barium is in a range of 0.97 to 0.98.
 5. The dielectric ceramic according to claim 4, further comprising silicon, and boron, lithium or the combination thereof.
 6. The dielectric ceramic according to claim 5, wherein: the mass ratio of the silicon to the barium titanate is in a range of 0.73 to 3.13 parts by mass of SiO₂ with respect to 100 parts by the mass of the barium titanate, and a mass ratio of the boron, lithium or the combination thereof to the barium titanate is in a range of 0.31 to 1.04 parts by mass of Li₂O with respect to 100 parts by the mass of the barium titanate.
 7. The dielectric ceramic according to claim 1, further comprising silicon, and boron, lithium or the combination thereof.
 8. The dielectric ceramic according to claim 7, wherein: a mass ratio of the silicon to the barium titanate is in a range of 0.73 to 6.3 parts by mass of SiO₂ with respect to 100 parts by the mass of the barium titanate, and a mass ratio of the boron, lithium or the combination thereof to the barium titanate is in a range of 0.31 to 2.1 parts by mass of Li₂O with respect to 100 parts by the mass of the barium titanate.
 9. The dielectric ceramic according to claim 4, wherein: the molar ratio of the magnesium to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.017 to 0.23.
 10. A capacitor comprising: a dielectric ceramic comprising: barium titanate; magnesium, a molar ratio of the magnesium to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.01 to 0.06; yttrium, a molar ratio of the yttrium to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.0014 to 0.06; manganese, a molar ratio of the manganese to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.0002 to 0.03; ytterbium, a mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate is in a range of 3.6 to 52.1 parts by mass of Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate; and a plurality of crystal grains comprising the barium titanate as a main component, wherein grain boundaries of the crystal grains are located between or among the crystal grains, and wherein an average diameter of the crystal grains is in a range of 0.05 μm to 0.2 μm; and a laminated body comprising a plurality of dielectric layers and a plurality of conductor layers, wherein each of the dielectric layers comprises the dielectric ceramic.
 11. The capacitor according to claim 10, wherein: the molar ratio of the magnesium to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.017 to 0.06, the molar ratio of the yttrium to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.0030 to 0.02, and the molar ratio of the manganese to the barium in the dielectric ceramic is in a range of 0.01 to 0.013.
 12. The capacitor according to claim 11, wherein the mass ratio of the ytterbium to the barium titanate is in a range of 6.3 to 15.6 parts by the mass of the Yb₂O₃ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate.
 13. The capacitor according to claim 12, wherein a molar ratio of titanium to barium is in a range of 0.97 to 0.98.
 14. The capacitor according to claim 13, wherein: the dielectric ceramic further comprises silicon, and boron, lithium or the combination thereof.
 15. The capacitor according to claim 14, wherein: a mass ratio of the silicon to the barium titanate is in a range of 0.73 to 3.13 parts by mass of SiO₂ with respect to 100 parts by the mass of the barium titanate, and a mass ratio of the boron, lithium or the combination thereof to the barium titanate is in a range of 0.31 to 1.04 parts by mass of Li₂O with respect to 100 parts by the mass of the barium titanate.
 16. The capacitor according to claim 10, wherein the dielectric ceramic further comprises silicon, and boron, lithium or the combination thereof.
 17. The capacitor according to claim 16, wherein: a mass ratio of the silicon to the barium titanate is in a range of 0.73 to 6.3 parts by mass of SiO₂ with respect to 100 parts by mass of the barium titanate, and a mass ratio of the boron, lithium or the combination thereof to the barium titanate is in a range of 0.31 to 2.1 parts by mass of Li₂O with respect to 100 parts by the mass of the barium titanate.
 18. The dielectric ceramic according to claim 15, wherein: the molar ratio of the magnesium to the barium is in a range of 0.017 to 0.23. 